Bercovici, Fleet struggle to move ball in opening loss to San Antonio

San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz's team could not find the end zone Saturday night.

San Diego Fleet head coach Mike Martz's team could not find the end zone Saturday night. (AP)

Shawn Mitchell

San Diego’s 769-day pro football drought came to an end last night in the Alamodome, though the Fleet’s inaugural voyage in the Alliance of American Football left it thirsty for a win.

The Fleet threw three interceptions, allowed six sacks and converted just 3-of-13 third downs in a 15-6 loss to the San Antonio Commanders last night in the Alamodome, where the new AAF dropped the curtain before an announced crowd of 27,857 and a CBS network television audience.

“Our hope was that this would look like real pro football and that’s exactly what it looked like,” said league co-founder and longtime NFL executive Bill Polian. “There is no place to go but up for both these teams.”

Fleet starting quarterback Mike Berovici, a former Arizona State standout, was sacked six times and threw two interceptions before being replaced by Philip Nelson in the fourth quarter.

Projected starter Josh Johnson was signed by the Washington Redskins in December, leaving Nelson, the third option, as the No. 1 for Week 2, when San Diego plays host to the Atlanta Legends in SDCCU Stadium.

“Mike is just not ready. Mike has not been in this kind of a system and Phil has.”

After a 6-6 first half in which the teams traded pairs of field goals, Berovici threw his second interception on the final play of the third quarter.

The Commanders, coached by former Chargers coach Mike Riley, scored the game’s first and only touchdown on a 3-yard run by former Charger Kenneth Farrow II two plays later.

Berovici completed 15-of-25 passes for 176 yards before being replaced by Nelson on the ensuing series.

“There are just some decisions Mike would like to have back,” Martz said. “The things that were wrong tonight we can fix.”

The Fleet were forced to use a makeshift offensive line after center Jeremiah Kolone rolled his ankle in practice on Thursday. Guard Damien Mama shifted to center and Chris Gonzalez moved to left guard.

The shuffling was a factor in six sacks, including a brutal hit by San Antonio linebacker Shaan Washington on Bercovici that separated the quarterback from the ball, his helmet and a shoe, for good measure.

The highlight clip went viral.

“He didn’t even see me coming,” Washington said. “When I hit him it just … it was like I ran through a brick wall or something.”

Nelson completed 5-of-10 passes for 68 yards and ran for 20 yards on three carries in the fourth quarter.

“I just told Mike that he was one of the toughest players I’ve ever played with,” Nelson said.

“To get up from that was incredible. He didn’t waver at all.”

Ryan Moeller and former Aztec Eric Pinkins each had an interception for the Fleet, which lost starting cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah to a broken wrist during the game.

Despite the setbacks, Martz said he is looking forward to the home opener.

“I can’t wait to line up and play again,” he said.

Fleet running back Ja’Quan Gardner finished with 55 yards on eight carries and Fleet receiver Brian Brown finished with a team-high five catches for 66 yards.

Polian said the scoring pace, reminiscent of last week’s snoozy Super Bowl, is not a concern.

“It’s not surprising that the pitchers are ahead of the hitters at this point,” he said. “But the running games were outstanding, the intensity was outstanding and San Antonio’s play in the secondary was outstanding.

“And if you’re a San Diego fan, you have to be happy with the way Nelson played. They got a spark when he came in the game.”

Mitchell is a freelance writer.

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